Plans to enable school authorities to deal with the problem of under-performing teachers are to go ahead this year, Minister for Education Batt O'Keefe confirmed this morning.
Mr O'Keeffe today addressed over 800 primary principals at the Irish Primary Principals Network conference in Killarney this morning. It was the Minister's first major address to a teachers' group since controversial budget education cutbacks were announced last October.
During his speech, Mr O'Keefe said that while the great majority of teachers are committed professionals, there are a number of them who experience "competence difficulties" that can have a negative impact on pupils.
The Minister said that he intending to bring forward newly-agreed procedures to enable school authorities to address the issue of serious under-performance by individual teachers, in a fair and consistent manner.
Before Christmas, the Teachers Conciliation Council reached agreement on new procedures under Section 24 of the Education Act. The procedures recognise that teachers who require assistance should have access to relevant professional development services.
Under the new procedures a school's board of management may seek an external review of a teacher's work which would be carried out by the Department of Education inspectorate. However, the board would have final say in what actions could possibly be taken as a result of the review findings.
"Having the correct processes in place, to deal effectively with underperformance, will be an important pillar in the delivery of a learner-centred education in our system in the future," he said.
"For school principals willing to deal with underperformance, I believe the new agreement provides much improved structures and processes to support their efforts compared to the frustration that may have been experienced under past procedures," he added.
